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Rescuers Unable to Find Two Vallejo Teens Swept Into Water

It was an emotional evening for rescue personnel and the families of two boys from Vallejo who were lost in the surf Saturday afternoon off Ocean Beach. Christie Smith reports. (Published Sunday, April 17, 2016)

Friends of two East Bay teens lost in the surf off San Francisco's Ocean Beach were in shock Sunday.

Rescuers called off the search at 9 p.m. Saturday for the 16-year-olds from Vallejo — one of whom was identified by his brother as Wayne Ausa — who were swept out to sea after they succumbed to a large wave that separated them from three of their friends.

"We have indicated to [the family] what our course of action will be and that will be suspending the search at dark," said Capt. Gregory Stump of the U.S. Coast Guard.

Ausa and the second victim, whose identity has not yet been confirmed by officials or family members, were both juniors at Vallejo High School where they attended the Engineering Academy, said friends, who plan to hold a vigil next Saturday.

The water at Ocean Beach was 54 degrees and ankle deep water at the beach is strong enough to pull an adult into the water, Baxter said. He said emergency officials always discourage people from swimming at the beach.

"At Ocean Beach, we always have dangerous conditions" and anyone who decides to swim must be a good swimmer and aware of the ocean conditions, he said.

"What makes this difficult is these individuals entered the water right when the tides were shifting, which means for Ocean Beach we have a really strong rip current," Baxter said.